Apparatus for treating carbonaceous material



Filed Jan.

INVENTOR JOHN W. CLARK ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1953 J. w. CLARK 2,5

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL Filed Jan. 23, 1951 s Sheet's-Shee t 2 ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet "3 Filed Jan. 23, 1951 INVENTOR JOHN W. CLARK ATTORNEY determined order, so that as each batch of car 55 ceous material in the container. The evolved Patented Oct. 13,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL John W. Clark, Washington, D. 0. Application January 23, 1951, Serial No. 207,251 12 Claims. (Cl. 202-99) he present invention relates to a new and imbonaceous material is introduced into the conproved apparatus and process for treating cartainer, it will be separated from the adjacent by-products therefrom. terial above the previously introduced batch. An important object is to provide an improved Each of the discs is preferably made of two perapparatus and process for localizing small forated parts of concaved or cupped shape which the treating operation, in order to obtain a unilation of steam, gas, vapor or air through. the coal ceous materials down to the small units of the ment of the material.

' A still further object consists in positioning in done by steam, gas or vaporized chemicals which each compartment, when expansible solid carlater may be followed by the application of a bonaceous materials are being processed, a solid subjected to heat under certain conditions as to provide a compact and dense solid fuel after A further ob ect consists in associating with a the carbonaceous material has een processed retort, a perforated container in which is mountfor the removal of the oils, vapors and gases ed the solid carbonaceous material to be treated A further ob ect is to provide a process fol or heated. and in Which means are provided for treating solid carbonaceous mateiial in a persolid carbonaceous material, such as coking-coal, bonaceous material, and introducing a heating as the same becomes heated above certain premedium into the container so as to contact and determined temperatures. This treatment and penetrate he m ri l th in. The batches of expansion is localized by separating the conmaterial are spaced from each other so as to and steam from the retort. spaced from the material initially introduced Another object comprehends the provision of therein so as to localize treatment and expansion means for allowing the withdrawal of the vaporof the solid carbonaceous material by reason of ized oils, gases and steam from the top of the rethe fact that each compartment formed in the tort while preventing the clogging of the outlet container by the partitioning members is not by any solid material. filled to its maximum capacity, and thus allows a A further object consists in removably mountbetter penetration by the heating medium ing in each of the perforated containers, a centhrough the solid products being treated. When trally and vertically disposed tubular shaft havthe desired numbe1 of separate batches of rnaing openings therein, and mounting on the shaft terial are introduced into the container and sep-- axially spaced partition members preferably in arated from each other by the vertically spaced gases and vaporized oils are then withdrawn from the top of the retort and the unvaporized oils and other liquids discharged through an outlet and drain valve in the bottom of the retort.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the trative purposes, is shown one form of apparatus for processing and treating solid carbonaceous material:

Figure l is a side view of a battery of retorts constructed in accordance with the present in-- vention and showing means for conducting a container to a retort so that it may be properly positioned therein during the treatment .of the car?- bonaceous material.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along a retort, a removable perforated container, and their associated parts constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3' is a sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is adetail side view of a modified form of retort and means for introducing the carbonaceous material into the perforated container Figure 5 substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the weighted: disc which may be associated with the material in each compartment.

Referring particularly to Figureshown for the purpose of illustration, a plurality of heatingretorts I constructed in accordance with the present invention, and arranged to constitute a battery of spaced retorts for receiving the material to be treated. Each retort receives a container H and is closed by a detachable cover I! clamped to the upper opened end of the retort in any suitable manner, such as by the threaded bolts or pins 13 which are pivoted as at H! to lugs t extending outwardly from the retort l0 and which are arranged; to be swung up wardly between the arms of bifurcated members [6 and clamped thereto by the nuts 11 threadedto the bolts 13. A longitudinally disposed track drawings wherein, for illusthe line 2--2 of Figure 1 showing 1, there is 18 positioned above the retorts i0, is arranged to receive the guide rollers i9 of the portable carriage 20. A cable 2| passes over a pulley 2-2 on the carriage and is provided with diverging spaced hooked arms 23 arranged to detachably engage, in the openings 24 of the spaced lugs 25 g as initially to be on the, container N (Fig. 2) so positioned within one of the retorts l0 and receive the carbonaceous material to be treated, When the treating operation is completed, the container with the residual products therein, is removed from the retort and conducted to a point of discharge by the carriage 20.

Within each of the retorts to are circumfer entially spaced verticallydispcsed guide rods 26' (Fig. 3*) which are connected to brackets or'bars- Z'Ithat' extend inwardly from the V constitute guide means for properly positioning the container H within the retort and for removing the same therefrom. Also, spaced from the bottom 28- of the retort (Fig. di'sposedrods 29 that receive and support the container l I when the latter is positioned within the retort. The rods 2'5 and 29 insure the container being properly spaced from the bottom and sides of the retort so as to allow the free circulation retort so asto 2) are transversely the container container I l,

of the treating medium during the operation of the apparatus. The container H may be formed of any suitable heat resisting sheet material and is provided with perforations or holes 30 in the bottom and sides thereof which are of such size as to permit the free circulation of the treating medium but prevent the solid particles of material within the container from escaping into the retort.

Disposed vertically and centrally within the container H is a removable tubular member or shaft 3| provided with perforations 32. The tubular member 3| extends from the bottom of the container preferably to a point above the same, and has. on its outer side axially spaced shoulders 33, 33a, 33b and 330 which taper in width 50. that the upper shoulder will be of less width than the bottom shoulder, for a purpose subsequently to be described. Arranged to be removably mounted on the tubular member 3| and supported by the spaced shoulders, are one or'more partitioning members 34, each of which ispreferably in the form of a disc of a diameter slightly less than the inner. cylindrical wall of l I, and which may be made of any suitable material such as heatdurable, thin sheet metal. Each disc consists of two coneaved or cupped shaped sections35and 36 (Fig. 2) which are provided with perforations 31 other making it possible for them to be secured together at their annular abutting edges 38, and provide a space 39 so as to facilitate the circulation of the treating medium through the disc during the treatment operation.

The discs 34 (Fig. 2) may be arranged to be positioned with-n the container in sequential order and while of the same external diameter,- are provided with central openings 40 of varying diameters so as to enable the lower disc A being first positioned within the container and passing the upper shoulders 330, 331) and 33a but being stopped to be supported by the same the bottom of the container. The disc B immediately above the disc A may then be positioned within the container and the diameter of its central opening is such as to allow it to clearly pass the shoulders 33c and 331) but come to rest when it engages shoulder 3311. Disc C isv then placed within the container and its central opening 40 issuch as to allow it to. pass the shoulder 330 but be engaged by the shoulder 33b. The disc D may then he slid on the tubular member 31 until its central opening abuts/the shoulder 33c. While for the purpose of illustration, four partition members or discs have been shown asso ciated with the. perforated container, it will be manifest that this number may be varied and the distance between each adjacent disc may be made closer or wider than that shown Any suitable heating and treating medium, such as steam, superheated steam, conditioned or unconditioned air or gases, may be introduced; into the retort H from a suitable source of supply through oneor more inlet pipes 4| (Fig. 2), each of which is provided with a hand or mechanical controlvalve 42. If air is used as the heating medium, it may be compressed and further hydrogenized or other wise treated. As the container is spaced from the sides and bottom of the retort, it will be seen that the heating and treating medium is allowed to thoroughly circulate around the retort and contact with the carbonaceous material in the receptacle through the perforations in the tubular member. 3i

and face each and partition itions may require. lection of all of the evolved gases. The container has an outlet or I having therein the material to be treated the the vaporized and ubular member 3| and the partition members 34 and liquids theremay be transported or conveyed mto the retort municate with and the retort [0 which may be of any size and A If-fitting shape may have oneof its sides or its ends pro cted tothe pipe 2-1) her as previously described. v "eally, or other- Where an especially compaot and dense solid itable manner, is 3i om the retort -11 mm the retort. closed by a door hinged at one side as at 56 plpe 49 Thus, 1t L J WlthlIl the container 53 and has fixed thereon the ent and economaxially spaced dises so for separating the interior es discharged from not filling the compartments to their maximum mix with the vapors capacity and allowing a space to be formed beort; tween the material and. the disc immediately the above the same in substantially the same mand team from the ner as shown by the separate batches of mate- 01 valve 48' allows reraw material in predetermined amount, is

. introduced into the container 1 A is then slidably mounted supported by the i the batch of spaced from the adjacent partition member A The batch of material N is then fed into the container so as to rest on the disc A. The disc B is then inserted in the container and supported by the shoulder 33a. The batch of material is then fed Similarly, the batches of material P and Q may be introduced into the container and separated from each other by th discs 0 and D, respectively. When predetermined batches of the carbonaceous material are positioned within the compartments, the hooked arms 23 of the cable 2| are connected to the lugs 25 of the container H and the carriage 28 transports the container to a point above one of the retorts Iii. The top l2 of the retort has previously been removed so that the container H with the raw material therein may be lowered into the retort so as to assume the position as shown in Figure 2. The cover I2 is then clamped to the retort and the separate batches of material in the compartments are properly positioned to be treated. It will be noted that the discs A, B, C and D separate the container into compartments that receive the individual batches of material but preferably the material-does not completely fill each compartment or section. provided for localizing expansion of the solid carbonaceous material or products in each of the several compartments when processing and treating carbonaceous material such as coking-coals and the like. Moreover, the perforations or openings in the tubular member 32 and the discs 34 coact with the perforations in the container to insure maximum penetration of the heating medium such as steam, gas or air to and through the material. In Figure 2, as the shoulders supporting the discs are graduated in size, the discs will have to be removed and inserted in a predetermined order so that the disc having the largest central opening will rest on the lower shoulder and the next smaller in size will rest on the shoulder 33% and so on until the desired number of shoulders or compartments are built up in the container. Manifestly, the number of such compartments may be varied as the particular operating conditions may require. This novel shoulder arrangement provides simple, economical and efiicient means for partially filling each compartment or section and for dumping the processed and treated solid product.

The evolved gases and vaporized oils escape from the top or other outlets of the retort through the member 50 into the discharge pipe 49 and the flange or shoulder 52 tends to prevent the clogging by any expanding solid materials that may reach the neck 41. The flange 52 is spaced from the adjacent wall M of the neck so as not to interfere with the free discharge of the evolved gases and oils. The pipe 49 may communicate through a swivel T-fitting 62 with an upwardly extending pipe 63 and a downwardly extending pipe 64 (Fig. 1). Thus, it will be seen that the vaporized oils and steam, as they are withdrawn from the retort through the pipe 49, condense on their way to the fitting E52 so that the evolved gas is withdrawn through the pipe 53 to a suitable point of discharge, while the pipe 54 conducts the condensed oils and steam which has now turned into oil or water to a container where tition member or disc on the shaft shoulder 33.

material M is l and the par-- I from the retort in substantially the the oils and water may be separated in any well known manner.

When the partitioning means shown in Figure 2 are used, after the processing operation is completed, the cover I2 is removed from the retort and the pipe 49 swung or moved to an out-oi-theway position, and the carriage 2D is then placed above the retort and the cable 2! lowered so that the spaced hooked arms 23 thereof engage the The container H with the residual or treated material therein is then withdrawn from the retort and conveyed to a suitable point of the material, the tubular member 3| and discs 34 from the container so that the latter may be reused.

If the carbonaceous material is to be treated so as to produce a compact and dense solid fuel, each of the compartments may be provided with a solid disc or ponderous member kid that rests on top of the material in each compartment which partially fills the same, thus providing means for insuring the obtaining of a compact and dense solid fuel after the oils, gases and tar acids have been removed from the carbonaceous material during the treating operation. The weighted disc or member 54 is used only when needed to control and compact such carbonaceous materials as have a tendency to expand under treatment. 7

When the container shown in Figure 4 is used, after completion of the heat treating operation of the material, the container may be withdrawn same manner as the container shown in Figure 2, and as the discs at are fixed to the tubular member 53, these parts are withdrawn with the residual material and may bodily be removed therefrom at the point of discharge of the container from the carriage 25) in a similar manner to that previously described.

Thus, it will be seen that an improved method and efficient apparatus are provided for treating solid carbonaceous material such as industrial coal or other fuel, and in which means are provided for separating the material in a retort into batches and thoroughly subjecting these batches to equal distribution of heat and steam that passes quickly to all parts of the material to be treated so as to insure maximum yield of the evolved gases, vaporized oils, chemicals and other.

by-products. Manifestly, be associated with the similar to the strainers 5c and 45' for withdrawing the evolved vapors, gases, steams and liquids should the same be found necessary or advisable.

It will be understood that the form of apparatus and method employed are merely illustrative and n no sense restrictive, and that the scope of the invention is to be measured by the following suitable strainers may claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a retort for treating carbonaceous material, means for introducing a heating medium into the retort, a perforated container mounted in the retort and arranged to receive the material to be treated, means for spacing the container from the sides and bottom of the retort to provide space for facilitating the circulating of the heating medium from the retort into the container and through the material therein, a perforated tubular member vertically mounted within the container and provided with axially spaced partitions for dividing the container into separate compartments, each of said outlets from the retort and bottom of the retort to provide a space for facilitating the circulating of the heating medium from the retort into and through the material in the container, a perforated tubular member Ver tically and centrally mounted within the container, spaced partitions slidably mounted on connected to the top of the retort.

4. In combination with a retort as called for in claim 3 in which the bottom of the retort is pro- 5. In combination with a retort for treating carbonaceou material, means for introducing a heating medium into the retort, a perforated container removably mounted in the retort and arranged to receive the material to be treated, means for spacing the container from the sides and bottom of the retort to provide a space for facilitating the circulating of the heating medium from the retort into and through the material in material separately into the compartments so as to partially fill the same, said compartment proo. In combination with a retort for treating carbonaceous material as called for in claim 5 in which the bottom of the retort is provided with a drain outlet for withdrawing unvaporized oils and other liquids from the retort, and valve means for controlling the discharge of the oils through said drain outlet.

and gases therefrom.

10. In combination with a retort for treating carbonaceous materials as called for in claim 9 in which means are provided for introducing superheate'd steam and gas at various temperatures into the retort.

11. In combination with a retort for treating carbonaceous material, means for introducing a heating medium into the'ret'ort, a perforated container insertable into the retort, a perforated tubular member mounted within the container, vertically spaced partitions dividing the container into separate compartments and supported by said tubular member, each of said compartments being partially filled with carbonaceous material prior to the introduction of the container into the retort, means for spacing the container from the sides an'd'bottom of the retort, and each of said partitions including a pair of perforated members having a vertical space therebetween through which the treating medium passes to treat the separate batches of material in the compartments.

carbonaceous material, means I heating medium into the retort, a perforated container, a perforated tubular member vertically mounted within the container and provided with axially' spaced partitions for dividing the conta'iner into separate compartments, each of said 12 partitions including a pair of perforated members having a vertical space therebetween, said partitions constituting spaced supports for the material introduced therein prior to the positioning of the container into the retort, and means'for spacing the container from the sides and bottom of the retort to provide spaces for facilitating the circulation of the heating 'medium into and through the container and the carbonaceous material therein, the material to be treated being arranged in separate batches in the compartments so as to partialh fill the same in order to localize treatment and expansion, of the material during the heating treatment thereof.

' JOHN W. CLARK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 824,872 Jewett July 3 1906 1,092,018 Castonia Mar. 31, 1914 1,710,070 Records Apr. 23, 1929 1,843,174 Records Feb. 2, 1932 2,161,014 Brown June 6, 1939 2,247,185 Caccioppoli June 24, 1941 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A RETORT FOR TREATING CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A HEATING MEDIUM INTO THE RETORT, A PERFORATED CONTAINER MOUNTED IN THE RETORT AND ARRANGED TO RECEIVE THE MATERIAL TO BE TREATED, MEANS FOR SPACING THE CONTAINER FROM THE SIDES AND BOTTOM OF THE RETORT TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR FACILITATING THE CIRCULATING OF THE HEATING MEDIUM FROM THE RETORT INTO THE CONTAINER AND THROUGH THE MATERIAL THEREIN, A PERFORATED TUBULAR MEMBER VERTICALLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE CONTAINER AND PROVIDED WITH AXIALLY SPACED PARTITIONS FOR DIVIDING THE CONTAINER INTO SEPARATE COMPARTMENTS, EACH OF SAID PARTITIONS INCLUDING A PAIR OF PERFORATED MEMBERS HAVING A SPACE THEREBETWEEN AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING THE CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL IN SEPARATE BATCHES INTO THE COMPARTMENTS SO AS TO PARTIALLY FILL THE SAME IN ORDER TO LOCALIZE TREATMENT AND EXPANSION OF THE CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL DURING THE HEATING TREATMENT THEREOF. 